The British actress, as fate would have it, starred alongside Pitt’s former wife, Angelina Jolie, in Disney’sMaleficent and you can practically hear the sound of busy-bodies licking their lips in glee.

Yet, much to the dismay of all those living life vicariously through the rich and famous, the rumours have been called into question by a close friend of Purnell, saying it’s ‘Completely made up. They’re not dating.’

All the while, yet another ‘insider’ has chosen to put words squarely into the mouth of the beloved UN Ambassador, actor, humanitarian and mother, Angelina Jolie, by claiming she ‘absolutely hates’ the unverified ‘fact’ her ex is dating ‘someone who played the teenage version of her in a film.’

Pitt has found himself subjected to speculation ever since Angelina Jolie filed for divorce in 2016.

Initially, he was dragged through the press after colleagues accused him of a romantic relationship with Allied co-star Marion Cotillard, who was then forced to defend her own fidelity to her husband.

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It seems we have learnt nothing at all.

As with Marion, the same is with Ella, and with Angelina previously, when Brad’s marriage with Jennifer Aniston broke down; it is a shame that in 2017, a respected actor with a family and thriving career is dragged through the dirt in this way, simply for working with a male colleague.